Automobile signal



Sept. 11, 1923. 1,457.349

G. B. A. ZIMMERMAN AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Fi led Dec. 15. 1922 44L mom/Er Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

GUSTAV BEBTHOLD ARTHUR ZIMMERMAN, OF BELLMORE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

Application filed December 15. 1922. Serial No. 607,067.

7 '0 (1.71 1071012) it in (11 007106171.

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv Bmrrrrono An'rnun ZiMMi-umAN, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Bellmore, Long 6 Island, in thecountyof Queens, city and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Automobile Signal, of which the following is a specification.

The invention 'relates to slow or stop signals for closed body automobiles, and the object is to provide a device which is of a simple, mechanical nature, easily applied without injury to the car, which is convenient to use, "and which, while occupying an exposed position, does not detract from the appearance of the vehicle, being substantially absorbed in the normal position into the frame of the body. To this end the invention may be said to comprise the device and the parts, improvements and combina tions hereinafterdescribed by reference to a preferred embodiment, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming 5 a part hereof;

Fig.' 1 is a fragmentary front elevation.

o a closed body with the signal applied veto, the signal being shown in the normal or retracted position;

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional'rear elevation on a-larger scale, showing the signal in the warning position;-

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of the pivotal axis of the semaphore; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the frame post, showing the retainer in plan.

A closed automobile body is designated generallyby the numeral 2, 3 being its lefthand front corner post or frame member.

The application of the invention to tllGillQfbL requires the boring of just two holes 4t and 5 through this frame member, one being in the upperportion of the member and the other about midway of its height or somewhat lower. i

- In the upper hole, from the inside, there is inserted a tube or thimble 6, having a rear end flange 7 formed with screw holes whereby the thimble is secured to the post by small wood-screws 8. The front end of the 'thimble projects somewhat from the outer face of'the body.

A rock-shaft 9 passes through the thimble,

shaft being urged axially rearward by a spring 12 confined in compression on the rear portion of the shaft, betweenthe flange 7 of the thiinble and a shoulder or enlarge- 'ment on the shaft. Such enlargement in this instance is a member 13 having a screwthreaded socket 14 whereby it is screwed onto a thread 15 on, the rear end of the shaft proper, the member being fixed in the desired position on the shaft by a set-screw 1.6. An operating crank-handle 17 within the closed body'is carried by this member, and may be frictionally knuckle-jointed thereto as shown at 18, so that in installing the device on the car the crank can be disposed substantially in line 'with the shaft in order to clear the side of the body during the screwing on of the member 13. The spring 12 holds the shaft and blade friction tight against rattling, and is of such strength as to hold the blade in the horizon-. tal position of Fig. 3 without the necessity of the driver keeping his hand on the crank. Means are thus provided for automatically keeping the signal. in its warning position until the driver desires to restore it, and when restored it is kept from swinging With the movement of the car.

For further means of holding the blade in the normal position, a member 19 is mounted on the outer side of the post 3, below the thiuiblo and rock-shaft, to-elubrace the lower or free portion of the blade. As seen most rlearly in Fig. 5, this member is a narrow LI -shaped "part. disposed transversely, its limbs or jaws 20 separated by a slot into which the blade slips and by which it is confined when the blade is'swung downward from the warning position to its ver tical position. 'The entrance 21 to the slot faces outward, that is to say,"toward the adjacent side of the body, and is flared by hereling the ends-of the jaws at their inner 105 sides. The member is carried by a stem 22, the front end of which is united to the middle ofthe rear jaw. Said stem is passed rearward through the lower hole 5 in the post member, and is screw-threaded at its in- 110 t'ention. 4

Owing to the relation vhereby the blade ,when restored'to normal position is retracted within the lines of thepost. 3, and particularly where its outer face is painted -the,same color the body, as is perterably the case the member 19 bein also similarly c painted, the device. except when signaling, is rendered inconspicuous.

.The blade may carry a warning light for use atnight. Such light is mounted :on the rear or inner side of the blade, where it is normally protected and concealed 'between the blade andvthe frame member 3. The conductor or conductors 23 may be led npfllongsidedhe post 3, or in lauy suitable manner,

ivot. I YVhatI claim as new is: 1. An automobile signal, comprising a cylindrical thimblc tobe inserted in a hole in and across to the blade near its a. front frame member of a closed body, the thlmbleh'aving an attaching tlangc at one end and being of a length to project slightly at the other end, a rock-shaft passing through the thimble carrying a. semaphore blade-at its outer end and an operating crank at-its inner end, there being an'abutment on the shaft bear frictionally against one 'end of the tlllllll)l,.tlll(l a splihg acting longitudinallv between the shaft and the other end of the thimblc was to holdlthc.

signal entirely by friction in any position.

2. A signal for application to the frontcorner portion of the frame of a closed automobile body, comprising :1 adapted to he inserted in a'bolc in such frame portion, a rock-shatt passing through the thimble' and bcarin a scma )horc blade 7 P .atitsforward end and a crank at its rear thimble end, a spring interposed between the thim.-.

ble and shaft and acti'ue axially thereof.

and amember having a stem adapted to bev secured in a lower holeiu thct'rameand a 1 forward port-ion presenting two jaws spaced by a transverse slot to confine the blade in the vertical position.

' An automobile signal.

v crank on the rear end of [he shaft. andthe other part of uluch compriscs av member I baring jaws spared bya slot into which the free portion of the blade will slip. a

stem to which the rear jaw of said member is unit-ed in transverse relation. and

clamping means cooperative with the rear.

end of the stem, the two parts being adapted to be mounted in upper and lower holes in a front corner post of a closed body.

GUSTAV BERTHOLD ARTHUR ZllVlMERMAN.

one part of; which comprises a 'l-o-k-shat't. a sema 'ihoro' blade on the forward end thcreot'hand a 

